Here’s what has been getting us excited and inspired this week at Alima Pure!

Spend an afternoon exploring the Italian Style exhibit at the Portland Art Museum celebrating the glamour, detail, and craft that Italy is known for.

Or if you’re not in Portland, or even if you are, indulge yourself further by checking out the absolute visual treat that is the book “Italian Style: Fashion since 1945”.

“A peer-to-peer, self-directed learning lab, School of Doodle is dedicated to activating girls’ imaginations through entertainment, education and community. With its free online curriculum, School of Doodle is a new kind of digital learning experience where artists, creators and students are the teachers and imagination and creativity are the lessons.” What’s not to love about that?

Iris Apfel has been an inspiration and icon to me for years. A strong woman and personality, she is getting her moment in the spotlight this April when the documentary “Iris” is released. Until then, we at least have the trailer!

Seeking recipe inspiration? Tending the Table is my new source for meal creativity. This weekend I’ll be whipping up the white bean, parsnip, and sage dip for a (hopefully) sunny picnic on the Portland Skidmore Bluffs.

If you’re looking to spice up your bathroom, these are probably what you didn’t know you needed.

Raf Simons was announced as Creative Director at Dior in April 2012, and had just eight weeks to create and present his first couture collection at Paris Fashion Week. This new documentary follows that journey and transition while paying homage to the high power fashion house and all the people who encompass it.

Well + Good has compiled the best free 10 minute workout videos found on the internet for those days when you can’t quite find the time or motivation.

Victor Hugo once said, “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” We couldn’t agree more, but Alima Pure wasn’t around in the 19th century so he couldn’t have known about our Satin Matte Blush in the sweet shades of Mimosa and Apple Blossom Satin Matte Blushes.

Brighten up fair complexions and start spring early with one of our lightest blushes. The pale pink or peach tones will give your cheeks a soft, effortless flush of color.

Apple Blossom is a muted pink that compliments cool and neutral tones while Mimosa, a creamy peach, is suitable for all skin tones. Both feminine petal pinks, these soft hues add the perfect touch of color without being too dramatic on even the fairest of skin.

A few tips:
For hiding blemishes use a fluffy brush like the #36 Pointed Crease Brush so you can really blend the product for natural coverage. Since you’re working with powder you’ll find this trick will make application much easier and quicker.

For under eye darkness use a little moisturizer and allow the product to dry before applying Concealer. You’ll want the skin to be hydrated yet dry to avoid streaking. Pat a little Concealer powder under your eyes with a #3 Concealer Brush, and blend upward towards your hairline.

Less is more. Powder Concealer covers beautifully so you just need a small amount when you first apply the product. You can later build if you need more coverage.

Apply Concealer under your Satin Matte Foundation so everything is well blended. You can touch up with a little extra concealer if necessary as a finishing touch.

I’ll Drink to That: A Life in Style, with a Twist I have wanted Betty Halbreich to dress me since I first heard of her when I was a teenager. With her autobiography, I’ve been given the next best opportunity in this honest and candid glimpse into the life of a true maverick who carved her own place into the fashion world.

Bad Feminist A Christmas gift to many of my friends, Roxane Gay’s intelligent, inspirational, and relatable book of essays explores the topic of embracing, celebrating, and navigating being a woman in our pop culture driven society full of contradictions and expectations.

The Secret History An intriguing and subtle thriller centered on a group of highly intelligent and debaucherous misfits, Donna Tartt uses the talent that won her the Pulitzer in 2014 for “The Goldfinch” to turn this novel into an exposing character analysis in the wake of a murder.

The Interestings A coming of age story that follows a group of friends from summer camp into adulthood, exploring the complexities of relationships in all forms and the shared moments that bond us for a lifetime.

We couldn’t find our favorite green beauty brands in Portland. We chose to combine the best natural products with great effective treatments. We really wanted to focus on green makeup because many of the toxic ingredients and chemicals are found in cosmetics.

3. What are your favorite Alima Pure products you carry and why?

We love the Satin Matte Foundations because we can find a perfect match for any skin color and the purity of the product. Our clients love the natural look and excellent coverage. We also love the eyeshadows for their rich pigment and staying power. Of course, we love that you are local and a great partner for sharing our passion for healthy beauty.

4. What do you do to stay healthy?

We regularly grab a spin, yoga or meditation class in the neighborhood! Luckily we can grab a green juice across the street or lunch at Prasad when we are working. We also fit in time to get facials and massages around town or on our travels. We teach a weekly yoga class with Living Yoga, a non-profit outreach program teaching yoga as a tool for personal change to populations who would

Place all of the ingredients except the oil in a blender. Begin blending at normal speed. As the mixture is blending, slowly add the oil until it’s completely blended.

7. What’s your favorite thing about living in the Pacific Northwest?

We are both Portland natives! We love meeting all the new clients who have moved to Portland and the tourists visiting our beautiful city. We love living here and hiking in Forest Park, going to the Gorge, heading to Mt. Hood or the Oregon Coast on the weekends.

Radiant Finishing Powder is one of those superhero products that can shorten your beauty routine and bring a healthy, radiant complexion to lackluster winter skin. Whether you're applying it on top of your Satin Matte Foundation or using it on its own, it will provide just enough dewiness and warmth to your skin, perfect for spring.

Olympia is our lightest shade of the three Radiant Finishing Powders that is suited for light skin tones that fall under depth levels 0-2. Augusta suits light to medium depth levels of 2-5 and Sedona provides warmth and glow for deeper tones.

There are no rules for applying Radiant Finishing Powder as it was created to be used as either an all-over setting powder or as a highlighter where needed. It can also be used as a blush if you’re looking for a warm flush of color on the cheeks. We particularly love applying Radiant Finishing Powder with #23 Kitten Brush, as it gives you a ton of control with the product.